Final result: Juventus-Napoli 0-0
JUVENTUS (Edited by Antonino Sergi)
By Gregory 6.5 – He must be ready for the only real chance of the match, at the end of the first half his intervention is pure instinct that saves the result on Politano’s free kick. He also does well on a right-footed shot from distance by McTominay and the goal remains intact.
Savona 6.5 – The surprise move by Thiago Motta, after the last benches he returns to the starting lineup and does not look out of place at all. He has an uncomfortable customer like Kvaratskhelia, he never lets himself be skipped. He always accompanies the offensive action.
Kalulu 6.5 – Replacing Gatti from the first few days of this championship was no easy task for anyone, the former Milan player returns to play the central role and does not make us miss his teammate. Diligent and always attentive.
Bremer 7 – It was one of the most interesting duels of the evening, a battle with Lukaku and he always comes out the winner. He doesn’t give the Belgian any space, he works well in advance and with Kalulu he already finds himself by heart. The partner changes but not the performance.
Change 6.5 – You find him covering Politano and then suggesting the pass to the three-quarter line, now a tactical key for Thiago Motta. The man everywhere for the Bianconeri, he almost serves the winning assist for Koopmeiners in the second half.
McKennie 6 – To be reviewed in both phases, he is the extra man on balls sent in the middle from the outside lanes thanks to his sense of insertion. Less precise in the containment phase. From 80′ Thuram sv.
Locatelli 6.5 – In the middle of the field he is the one who plays the most balls, suggests and distributes. Regenerated after a complicated year, also protagonist of a very important closure on Politano in the second half.
Nico Gonzalez 5.5 – A step back from the great performance he gave in the Champions League against PSV, he lost a poisonous ball in the first half and then had a difficult life in the close duel with Olivera.
Koopmeiner 6 – Perhaps he only needs that one play to definitively take over Juventus, he clears up many balls in the three-quarter line. He drops into the middle of the field, crosses and gets in. He tries with his right foot, he lacks precision but is improving.
Yildiz 6 – In the first half he is the man who tries most to create superiority up front, usual movement to come back and several interesting crosses not exploited by his teammates. Sometimes he is stubborn in dribbling but is always fearsome for the blue rearguard.
Vlahović 5 – Another great match like the one against Roma, he doesn’t shine. Never in the thick of the action and always caged by Napoli’s central pair. Only six touches in one half, not enough. Substituted at half-time. From 46′ Weah 6 – He tries to give a new direction to the Juventus offensive game, he tries at the end.
Thiago Motta 6 – Third consecutive 0-0, another match without conceding goals but he can’t find the decisive play to unlock the contest. He starts again from the certainties behind and in the middle of the field, something needs to be reviewed up front. He also tries replacing Vlahovic for Weah so as not to give Napoli any reference points, but the Azzurri defense is a bunker.
NAPLES
Meret 6 – His match lasts just thirty-five minutes, in which he receives no shots on goal. Then he is forced to raise the white flag due to a muscular problem. From 36′ Caprile 6 – He only has to answer to Yildiz, without even struggling too much. A calm debut.
By Lorenzo 6 – He returns to his natural role, that of right back, he takes care of Yildiz and does it well.
Rahman 6.5 – In the role of the year of the Scudetto he finds his certainties. Is it a coincidence? In the meantime he produces his best performance of the season. Impeccable, in both phases of the game.
Good morning 6.5 – He has practically never played in a four-man defense, yet he seems to have been there forever. He has already absorbed the movements. As a marker, then, he is truly unbeatable: Vlahovic never sees him in the final third of the field.
Olivera 6 – Preferred to Spinazzola because he is more accustomed to the back four, he does his job without any great flashes or mistakes.
Zambo Anguissa 6 – The feeling is that Conte’s arrival has done him good in the head: last year he seemed indolent and listless, now he is always on the ball.
Lobotka 6.5 – With the new module he is once again very much needed in the first build-up: he drops between the two central defenders and starts the action himself. He also adds a great pressing all over the pitch and a lot of aggression and here is the usual man-everywhere performance. From 87′ Gilmour sv
Politano 6.5 – At the Stadium we saw why Conte still prefers him to Neres: for the enormous tactical discipline that allows Napoli to never take risks. Even today more than one precious retreat and also a goal opportunity all his own. From 72′ Neres sv
McTominay 6.5 – Conte’s surprise choice immediately becomes a factor, right from the first minutes. His position, between the lines, bothers Juventus. And in fact the first scoring opportunity is all his.
Kvaratskhelia 5.5 – This time he doesn’t shine, in fact he is in the shadow, well contained by Juventus’ right chain. Less lucid than usual in his choices in the final third of the pitch. From 72′ Folorunsho sv
Lukaku 5 – It is known that someone of his size takes time to get into shape. After two goals against Parma and Cagliari, today that the game is tougher, he struggles more. He always arrives late and is unable to get his teammates up when they rely on him, also thanks to the Juventus defense. In the first big match, he fails. From 72′ Simeone sv
Anthony Conte 6 – He changes the formation in the most complicated match of this start of the season, he mirrors it and the choice proves useful to contain Juventus. Of course, in the offensive half of the pitch his Napoli could have done more, but behind he never risks. He showed personality and organization even in a complicated pitch and therefore he can only be promoted.